Replay Needed To Find N.Z. Softball Champion

Press, Volume CV, Issue 31002, 7 March 1966, Page 8

Replay Needed To Find N.Z. Softball Champion

Broadway, from Wellington, achieved the seemingly impossible by twice defeating the title-holder, Railways, (I luU Valley), to win the John Lennon Trophy inter-club men s softball championship at Edgar Mclntosh Park on Saturday.

The victories were achieved in vastly different manners. In the first game Broadway scored four runs in the fourth innings when the Railway’s fieldsmen lapsed momentarily Another run in the sixth innings in reply to two by Railways gave Broadway its 5-2 win.

In the play-off Railways jumped into a two-run lead in the second innings, but one run in the third and two in the sixth gave Broadway the trophy by the odd run in five. Broadway has now won the trophy on six occasions since its inception in 1939—0ne more than Railways. Broadway last won the title in 195859. Since then only Mirimar (Wellington) has interrupted Railways’ triumphal march. Results on Saturday were:

Round 4.—Broadway 4, Dodgers (Dunedin) 1; Marist (Auckland) 3, Avon (Christchurch) 1: Railways 4, Ramblers (Auckland) 0. Round 5. —Dodgers 4, Marist 1: Ramblers 7, Avon 3; Broadway 5, Railways 2. Final.—Broadway 3, Railways Final points were:

Battle of Pitchers As expected, the final matches were very much a battle between the two pitchers, W. Massey (Railways) and G. Ward (Broadway). Massey played magnificently and was the outstanding player in the two games against Broadway. In addition to his tremendous pitching his fielding was a model. He often threw himself at bunts and dive-passed them to his first baseman in the manner of a serum-half. Massey pitched three strikeouts and conceded seven hits in the two matches as opposed to Ward's two strike-outs and 11 hits. Ward’s pitching was little inferior to Massey’s, but his greatest efforts came in his batting. He was the only Broadway olayer consistently to hit Massey safely and he scored two of the five runs in the first game. A trip to Mexico City for the World Series would be a just reward. Whiting's Home Run Railways lost the first game in the fourth innings. With two batters out and the bases loaded, the New Zealand soccer international, p. Whiting, hit a glorious home run through left field to bring in four runs. It was not so much the home run that proved disastrous to Railways but the errors which preceded it and allowed two of the three men to get on base. Railways’ best batter, J. Liddle, repeating Whiting’s effort in the fifth innings to bring himself and T. Nunns home but it was too late— Broadway had already gained victory and an advantage for the replay. R. M. Strong hit safely in Railways second innings in the

i play-off and a home run by K. 'Barrowman. straight over centre i field, brought in two runs and an apparently winning margin. But Broadway struck back at its next bat. E. Adams—a young i player who impressed with his : fielding at short stop—came home on a hit by M. Walsh and 1 the tension was on. Ward’s Safe Hit Brilliant softball followed as | yet another safe hit by G. Ward enabled him to reach base. The catcher. P Clark, pounded a three-base hit to score another vital run and level the scores. A very bad misfield by the Railways first baseman. K. Barrowman, off a hit by C. Ward allowed Clark to scamper home. Led by Massey, Railways threw everything into a lastditch effort but Ward was riding the crest of a wave. He struck out Railways’ last batter, Liddle, cast aside his glove, leapt in the air in a victory dance and was chaired off by his team-mates. 24 Years Of Softball Few faults could be found with Broadway, The batting was powerful, the catching and throwing sure. Whiting was outstanding in the outfield: Adams efficient at short-stop: and C. Ward courageous in playing in spite of hamstring injury. Clark s catching was safe and Henderson and the veteran of

124 years of softball. H. Atkin, were champions in a champion team. Railways was probably unlucky not to win the first game for seven safe hits were scored compared with Broadway s three. But the second match belonged to the Wellington team even though each team scored four safe hits. Railways’ one bad innings of the tournament proved disastrous. Avon's Improvement The Christchurch team. Avon, improved in its two matches on Saturday. Against Marist M. R. Napier and J. Hooper, who had achieved the rare distinction of hitting a home run off G. Ward, batted very well and Napier scored on an error. B. Mansfield. at third base, held two brilliant sizzling catches. However. P. Buffalora scored two magnificent home runs for Marist. Lapses in the first two innings ruined Avon's chances against Ramblers and seven runs were scored almost before the match had begun. Avon then scored the only other runs of the match, an indication of what might have been. S. Whittington hit a very good three base hit and came home on a safe hit by Napier. Whittington and Napier then hit safely to bring home P. Campbell! and Hopper in the last innings.

11 W P W Runs L F A Pts Broadway . . 6 5 1 30 13 5 Railways .. 6 4 IS 8 4 Ramblers ■ ■ 5 3 16 16 3 Dodgers .. 5 2 3 14 13 2 Marist .. 5 3 9 11 2 Avon . . 5 6 5 8 34 0